Ronnie&Danny

pulzcul

"Chasinrainbows"
Silver Member
I've watched this match about a dozen times and I never tire of it. Its 1988 at the golden 8 ball with Ronnie Allen and Danny Dilaberto playing some of the best one pocket I have ever seen. These guys are 1 pocket rockets! It starts out with an intro from Jay [the one and only] Helfert. 22 years ago! Lookin good Jay! The pool is great but they are wired so you get alot of Ronnie and Danny on the side. Ronnies really got a mouth but Danny never cusses once. A couple guys on the rail are Harry Platis, TJ Puckett and I think Keith might have showed up. If you guys havn't watch this one in a while do it again. Great fun! Don
 
I have heard alot about this match and would like to see it sometime, it took place here in Arizona I do believe. :smile:
 
I got a copy from Jay himself. It's entertaining & shows how the modern equipment has affected play (tables play a little different now). They didn't fear many shots, that's for sure! I just wish mine wasn't the shortened version (they editted out "dead" time).

BTW, I learned a 4-railer (that won't go on modern felt) from that video.
 
I got a copy from Jay himself. It's entertaining & shows how the modern equipment has affected play (tables play a little different now). They didn't fear many shots, that's for sure! I just wish mine wasn't the shortened version (they editted out "dead" time).

BTW, I learned a 4-railer (that won't go on modern felt) from that video.

yep, winning shot from Danny on the very first game. BTW it will go on brand new simonis.
 
I have heard alot about this match and would like to see it sometime, it took place here in Arizona I do believe. :smile:

I watched it on video a few years ago, and was thinking it went off in Louisiana. I could be wrong though.

Update:
See... I was wrong. :P
 
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This match was played at the Golden Eight Ball in Phoenix. Billed as the World Championship Challenge Match, with $20,000 on the line. Kind of a forerunner to what Tar is doing today. They played three out of five sets, each set a Race To Five. It went down to the wire too.

Danny was the host pro at the Golden Eight Ball and Ronnie had spent years in and around Phoenix, so he had his own following. They played on a beautiful Brunswick Centennial table, down in a pit with seating all around. The full match lasted nearly ten hours, and is on five DVD's. I'm out of stock now, but if enough people order them I'll make some new copies.

I sell the set for $100 and that includes shipping (in the USA). The edited version is $29.95 (1 DVD) and I have it in stock. It is nearly three hours long, and all the time between games and between shots is cut out. Still a lot of great shooting. I have these in stock. jayhelfert.com to order.
 
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I have a copy of the edited version and I highly recommend this for any one pocket junkies collection.

-don
 
I watched it on video a few years ago, and was thinking it went off in Louisiana. I could be wrong though.

Update:
See... I was wrong. :P
Cyco, you probably thought it was in Louisiana because it was so humid in Phoenix at that point-- which is very unusual for that area. The wet conditions seemed to bother Ronnie more so than Danny. This was a great challenge match!

Doc
 
Jay,

If I remember right, Ronnie appeared to be rooming with UJ. He had made some comment, like he didn't get any sleep because they wouldn't get a motel room or something and he never got any sleep.

I think it was The Monk and UJ and he seemed pissed at them

What was up with all that? Were those his backers?
 
Watching it as we speak, err type.

Danny is playing with a Meucci "Road Agent" cue, looks like Ronnie is playing with steel jointed Joss cue.

LOL

Ken
 
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Cyco, you probably thought it was in Louisiana because it was so humid in Phoenix at that point-- which is very unusual for that area. The wet conditions seemed to bother Ronnie more so than Danny. This was a great challenge match!

Doc

That is one thing that really pops up in my recollection of the match, both players talking about how wet the table was playing.
 
The Golden 8 Ball. I havent heard that name in quite some time. Danny was the house pro back then. I miss that place.
 
with the danny ronnie match. how were they playing then. best. on the downside?

Both were still playing good, in the twilights of their careers. It's the last match where I saw Ronnie play anywhere near his best form. He had trouble with Danny though, who was very comfortable on this table. He practiced on it every day. Ronnie prepared for this match by playing Jack Cooney for several days at fifty a game.
 
Jay,

If I remember right, Ronnie appeared to be rooming with UJ. He had made some comment, like he didn't get any sleep because they wouldn't get a motel room or something and he never got any sleep.

I think it was The Monk and UJ and he seemed pissed at them

What was up with all that? Were those his backers?

Ronnie had his own room. He snored too loud for anyone to room with him. I roomed with UJ. He could sleep with his eyes open. I swear to God! :eek:

Ronnie's backer was Elliott Robbins, a shortstop pool player from Jersey who had made some money in the Karaoke biz. Danny's backer was David Lee who owned the Golden 8-Ball.
 
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